I'm a writer, not a speller. Theory is right, right?Moving on.It's extremely tempting not to blog a post (can those verbs and nouns be flipped and say the same thing?) about the new story idea I developed today from (yet again...) a dream I had last night. I was pumped today. As I said on facebook, You know when you're pacing Barnes and Noble with the headphones blaring, smiling and pumping your fist, almost running in to three people, that the new book idea is pretty badass. Once again given to me in my sleep last night. What the heck have I been eating before going to bed? Don't make me answer that.

But a dream is not enough. Dad always tells me he has epic, sprawling dreams that he thinks would make a fantastic story and then, like most of us, he forgets them before lunch. So those predestined, split-seconds of color colliding in your sleep is not enough. It must be fostered, and there is, in my opinion, a helpful theory necessary to seizing that incredible opportunity. Not just in dreams, but in any story development. I'll copy an email I wrote to a friend here. Maybe it'll be a little help, maybe it will appall, maybe it will (most inappropriately) coax laughter. Either way is sort of a win, is it not?Advice. I can give it to you in two departments. One is the theory, which you'd need to develop story ideas. The other is the way to execute those theories. The latter would help you strengthen overall writing in any field -- essay, email, poetry etc.. But I think the first is where you need to start if you're looking to meet the challenge of story writing.For me, I think I'm blessed. I think God gives me the dreams that inspire my stories like a parent would give a kid a beloved toy, knowing I will cherish it and it will bring me joy, but perhaps hoping I'll do and create something meaningful from it as well. You need to do four things to cultivate your mind into accepting story development.1) Know what you love2) Listen to what you see (like the play on words there?)3) Make the ordinary extraordinary (I'm really good at making number lists) 4) Screw the rest, and do itThe first is simple. Know your passions. For me, I have a sincere love for our world (we like to make fun of how creepy I am). I wish to captivate and glorify our extraordinary race, our extraordinary love and struggle as people. This is also why I love sci-fi and fantasy so much, but that's for another day. So my books, I hope, have themes empowering that belief. What is your passion? Will it be spiritual? Political? Personal struggles? Life lessons you learned the hard way? Know who you are and let it be manifested in your writing.

Second, listen to what you see. When ANYTHING pops into your head, seize it. Pin it to the ground like a thrashing fish. Soon, it will reveal itself in glimpes, color, and eventually, scene. Listen to the scenes that you conjure in your head. These will be key points for your story. They are your characters trying to speak to you. Listen. Ponder. Think and expand on it. Use music, people watching, memories, and imagination.Third is important merely in catching the pivotal intrigue of your story. Take something usual and make it unusual. For instance, Hunger Games made game/reality shows - something very usual - extremely unusual. I made fire - something natural and every day - something unnatural, with the power to destroy an empire (Fantasy Book, anyone?). So start focusing on spinning. Spin something into a plot.Lastly is simple as well. Once you've snatched up enough scenes to weave, once you have the basic premise of the plot - your basic spin - forget the rest. You must start writing, or else you never will. And hopefully, you'll see how much you love it.Love to all. And prayers for Colorado. All we can say is that we don't know. Don't know how there is room for such evil in our world. But I think that's the only good meaning of it -- tha fact that we CAN'T comprehend it. So to all those affected, we love you and are praying for you. Hopefully those victims woke up and saw a better world in front of them than the one left behind. We'll still be here. Waiting. Hoping. And not knowing. God bless.SM

Not this Muse. -->Unfortunately.But if you find that Museyou pretty much don't need any other talent whatsoever to make it in this world. Let me know when you find THAT --> Muse and then we can be friends. Forever. Because they always play with stars exploding in the background.Onto the topic. When I began really writing Breakers (I say "really" because I know the DREAM for Breakers came on the night/early morning of October 9th, 2009 but I didn't truly start turning notes into novel until April 24th, 2010 (and, ironically, I FINISHED the book on April 24, 2011 without ANY idea that the dates coincided. I, like all authors, am grossly sentimental and feel that wasn't a coincidence)), I think I was reading Harry Potter. I am both grateful and regretful of this. Harry Potter lent me a very astute tone of voice in my writing but plagued me with the assumption that excessive adverbs were okay.They're not okay. Anyone with frustratingly conflicting opinions can promptly and determinedly fight me on this in an authoritatively polished tone. (Wasn't that a chore to read?).But back to the topic (again). At the end of my Breakers writing experience was when I had JUST started reading the Hunger Games, which has since become an emotional bond after I got to spend a day with the cast and crew.

What? I don't like pictures of myself, remember? Just imagine me smack dab in the middle in there. Minus the Liam. Heartbreakingly.

But what THAT book did for Breakers was encouraged me to write sharper, carve a more intense edge from the work. Jack it up a notch. I kept that in mind while editing too and can only hope it succeeded some.

The reason I bring up these influences is to demonstrate how reading is like eating. You are what you eat.

Fifty Shades of Grey? That's going right to your thighs. (And I must say this with only an analytical approach to the writing, as I wish not to bash any fellow author. But the writing in that book -- regardless of CONTENT -- is repulsive. You know it, I know it, and the check out counter at Costco knows it).

When you're writing, every single established author will tell you the same damn thing. Read. Read everything.

We're sick of hearing it.

But it's true. Reading and evaluating what you like and don't like, what works and what doesn't work, what you wish to replicate are all vitally important to writing. However, it's important to remember your OWN voice. Remember this is YOUR story and not J.K. Rowling's. Once you try and follow a style too closely, it hinders in your writing and it shows.

ALL NOVELS REQUIRE THEIR OWN STYLES. Some styles do NOT work for some novels. Make YOUR style work for YOUR story. Don't make Rowling's style work for your story.

As for my literary role models, that's quite simple. My dear friend in Australia and author of the NY Times bestselling series, The Ranger's Apprentince, John Flanagan. I love you, John.

A literary figure who I feel quite close to and whose picture is on my wall, C.S. Lewis. His intellect and humility inspire me.

J.R.R. Tolkien, depicted at his favorite tree. While I am one of the only fantasy authors who CANNOT cite him as an inspiration for my fantasy novels, it is his majestic world building, spiritual fortitude, and attention to detail that I admire. Not the sharpest picture of him, but it was the last known taken on October 9th. (Catch the date? I had to).

Again, I cannot even declare myself a crazy fanatic of the books, but the grace and genuine compassion Rowling possesses as an author is what I would hope to be.

Still *really* inspirational...

Whaaat....how did THAT get in here? Whoops...he's not an author....But I think I might have a new favorite tree, too.